The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
lilyjoy's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
anvh_01's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really really really L O V E this book
samsamabrasam's review against another edition
4.0
I Really think this should have been nominated for an Alex Award. Deeply disturbing and incredibly well-written. I'd love to read more translations from this author.
glittercherry's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
slimshaedy92's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's weird, and I think I feel that way because depictions of "depravity" make me more uncomfortable than straight gore, and that's because I'm American. Same with Lapvona- the horror isn't in the gore or the "jumpscares", but in the depths that the human mind can reach when attempting to fathom the horrors of femininity.
geve_'s review against another edition
3.0
It's rare that I finish a book unsure how I feel about it. Kinda wish I could discuss this with someone who would change my mind about how I'm about to rate this.
2.5 stars.
This book was under 300 pages but it felt like it was at least 500, in both a good and bad way. I guess it says something that you really go through a lot in the book to make it feel like a far longer read, but also, it was really really really repetitive, wordy and unnecessarily descriptive. I think the author was going for something with the repetition, I just don't know what it is. Maybe it's a translation thing that I am missing the depth on, but I found it really tedious to read. The way it was written was also far too wordy for me, and I often like overwritten shit. I am not going to fault the author on this point though, as I do think this was translation related. There were many similes and metaphors that didn't make any sense, at least in english and with little Ecuadoran cultural ref. A bit annoying at first, but I just ignored them after a while.
The story. Hmm. You know, I think it was pretty skillfully written for the most part, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. There is just A LOT here, and it's pretty weird at times, but it does capture a specific age where things aren't solid or real yet, and I think that was really effective. There are books that are weird just to be weird, but I don't think this is one, this seemed pretty genuine to me, although I am not gonna say I fully understood it all. However, the plot itself, pretty limited. Most of the book was inside a limited number of character's heads, and they were all crazy. Not a ton really happens on camera, it's mostly descriptions post event, and it's not generally clear what should or shouldn't be believed. So it was a bit dry, a bit boring, but still well written for what was intended.
The themes. Um, the motherhood/daughterhood theme seemed ever present, but I honestly didn't get it. There were other girl/female/woman related themes that I got, but there were a few repeated lines about motherhood/daughterhood that I still do not understand. Some of the girls growing up, becoming adults, understanding the difference in the girl world vs the woman world, and how they are treated was interesting and well done. The unusual psychology was interesting.
What happened?
Good:
-Weird, in a good way
-Unique view of teenage girls
-Unusual but interesting psychology of characters
Not good:
-WTF happened
-Kinda boring
-Mostly just a character explaining what happened
-Had a whole ass chapter as a monologue that just droned on for a VERY long time and included a whole thesis about horror that was just way too fucking much for me.
I didn't hate it, but I really didn't love it. I would like to discuss this with friends who got it better than me. I would read another book by this author.
2.5 stars.
This book was under 300 pages but it felt like it was at least 500, in both a good and bad way. I guess it says something that you really go through a lot in the book to make it feel like a far longer read, but also, it was really really really repetitive, wordy and unnecessarily descriptive. I think the author was going for something with the repetition, I just don't know what it is. Maybe it's a translation thing that I am missing the depth on, but I found it really tedious to read. The way it was written was also far too wordy for me, and I often like overwritten shit. I am not going to fault the author on this point though, as I do think this was translation related. There were many similes and metaphors that didn't make any sense, at least in english and with little Ecuadoran cultural ref. A bit annoying at first, but I just ignored them after a while.
The story. Hmm. You know, I think it was pretty skillfully written for the most part, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. There is just A LOT here, and it's pretty weird at times, but it does capture a specific age where things aren't solid or real yet, and I think that was really effective. There are books that are weird just to be weird, but I don't think this is one, this seemed pretty genuine to me, although I am not gonna say I fully understood it all. However, the plot itself, pretty limited. Most of the book was inside a limited number of character's heads, and they were all crazy. Not a ton really happens on camera, it's mostly descriptions post event, and it's not generally clear what should or shouldn't be believed. So it was a bit dry, a bit boring, but still well written for what was intended.
The themes. Um, the motherhood/daughterhood theme seemed ever present, but I honestly didn't get it. There were other girl/female/woman related themes that I got, but there were a few repeated lines about motherhood/daughterhood that I still do not understand. Some of the girls growing up, becoming adults, understanding the difference in the girl world vs the woman world, and how they are treated was interesting and well done. The unusual psychology was interesting.
What happened?
Spoiler
I am not sure. They skimmed over a whole ass death so quickly I wasn't even sure it really happened, I had to go back to confirm it. I am still wondering about a second death, and also about the final climax and conclusion, so that's kinda a drag. I think the book itself is more about the meat than the ending, so it's not the WORST ending I've ever read, just really anticlimactic, and by the time I got to it I was ready for it to just be over.Good:
-Weird, in a good way
-Unique view of teenage girls
-Unusual but interesting psychology of characters
Not good:
-WTF happened
-Kinda boring
-Mostly just a character explaining what happened
-Had a whole ass chapter as a monologue that just droned on for a VERY long time and included a whole thesis about horror that was just way too fucking much for me.
I didn't hate it, but I really didn't love it. I would like to discuss this with friends who got it better than me. I would read another book by this author.
hanner_stritch's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
michelada's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
fantasmariana's review against another edition
4.0
Reseña de la segunda lectura:
Volví a leer este libro con mi club de lectura y, en lugar de escuchar el audiolibro, ahora sí leí el libro. La verdad es que lo disfruté muchísimo más. Pude tomar notas y encontrar detalles que en el otro formato se me escaparon por completo. Si bien la prosa de Mónica no es mi estilo favorito, reconozco que es muy bella, se nota su background en poesía. Lo que más disfruté esta vez fue el ensayo de Annelise en donde describe al "horror blanco" y lo compara con el horror cósmico, es un agasajo lleno de referencias que todos los fanáticos del género van a amar.
En mi primera reseña dije que no me creí la forma en que estas chicas hablaban... esta segunda vez no sentí eso. Los personajes se sintieron mucho más reales y cercanos. Este es uno de los libros más audaces que he leído en cuanto a como retrata las relaciones madre-hija, pero también las amistades entre mujeres durante la adolescencia: su intensidad, el autodescubrimiento y sus límites.
"Las Voladoras" sigue siendo mi favorito de Mónica, pero creo que Mandíbula es imperdible.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Un libro que me provocó sentimientos encontrados. En principio, su contenido es genial; hay referencias a grandes obras clásicas del horror pero al mismo tiempo es una historia completamente original. Otra cosa que me encantó, es que ésta es la primera vez que encuentro las creepypastas utilizadas de una forma efectiva para perturbar. La exploración de las relaciones madre-hija, su complejidad y el llevarlas a un extremo grotesco y siniestro es sin duda un tema que incomoda, causa escozor y miedo. Lo mismo sentí con cómo la autora aborda la adolescencia femenina y la amistad entre chicas.
Mi problema con el libro es que no me gustó la forma. Aunque conforme fueron pasando los capítulos me fui acostumbrando a la prosa de Ojeda, hubo algo que simplemente no me acabó de hacer clic. En cierto punto recordé la serie Dawson's Creek en la que adolescentes de 15 años tenían unos diálogos inverosímiles para gente de su edad. No digo que las adolescentes no puedan tener conversaciones profundas y hablar sobre "ejercicios funambulistas" y hacer unas reflexiones filosóficas densas, pero a ratos me costaba creerme los diálogos y los personajes.
Quizá la experiencia hubiera sido diferente si hubiera leído "Madíbula" en vez de escuchar el audiolibro. Me resultó insufrible el Spanglish y me hizo cuestionarme si así sueno yo cada vez que lo uso, jajaja. En fin, un libro que recomiendo por su originalidad, sin duda, pero cuyo estilo puede llegar a ser pesado y que en un momento me hizo llegar a cuestionarme si mejor lo abandonaba. Al final del día me da gusto no haberlo hecho y haber terminado. Quedo intrigada y con ganas de leer más de la autora para formarme una opinión más clara.
Volví a leer este libro con mi club de lectura y, en lugar de escuchar el audiolibro, ahora sí leí el libro. La verdad es que lo disfruté muchísimo más. Pude tomar notas y encontrar detalles que en el otro formato se me escaparon por completo. Si bien la prosa de Mónica no es mi estilo favorito, reconozco que es muy bella, se nota su background en poesía. Lo que más disfruté esta vez fue el ensayo de Annelise en donde describe al "horror blanco" y lo compara con el horror cósmico, es un agasajo lleno de referencias que todos los fanáticos del género van a amar.
En mi primera reseña dije que no me creí la forma en que estas chicas hablaban... esta segunda vez no sentí eso. Los personajes se sintieron mucho más reales y cercanos. Este es uno de los libros más audaces que he leído en cuanto a como retrata las relaciones madre-hija, pero también las amistades entre mujeres durante la adolescencia: su intensidad, el autodescubrimiento y sus límites.
"Las Voladoras" sigue siendo mi favorito de Mónica, pero creo que Mandíbula es imperdible.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Un libro que me provocó sentimientos encontrados. En principio, su contenido es genial; hay referencias a grandes obras clásicas del horror pero al mismo tiempo es una historia completamente original. Otra cosa que me encantó, es que ésta es la primera vez que encuentro las creepypastas utilizadas de una forma efectiva para perturbar. La exploración de las relaciones madre-hija, su complejidad y el llevarlas a un extremo grotesco y siniestro es sin duda un tema que incomoda, causa escozor y miedo. Lo mismo sentí con cómo la autora aborda la adolescencia femenina y la amistad entre chicas.
Mi problema con el libro es que no me gustó la forma. Aunque conforme fueron pasando los capítulos me fui acostumbrando a la prosa de Ojeda, hubo algo que simplemente no me acabó de hacer clic. En cierto punto recordé la serie Dawson's Creek en la que adolescentes de 15 años tenían unos diálogos inverosímiles para gente de su edad. No digo que las adolescentes no puedan tener conversaciones profundas y hablar sobre "ejercicios funambulistas" y hacer unas reflexiones filosóficas densas, pero a ratos me costaba creerme los diálogos y los personajes.
Quizá la experiencia hubiera sido diferente si hubiera leído "Madíbula" en vez de escuchar el audiolibro. Me resultó insufrible el Spanglish y me hizo cuestionarme si así sueno yo cada vez que lo uso, jajaja. En fin, un libro que recomiendo por su originalidad, sin duda, pero cuyo estilo puede llegar a ser pesado y que en un momento me hizo llegar a cuestionarme si mejor lo abandonaba. Al final del día me da gusto no haberlo hecho y haber terminado. Quedo intrigada y con ganas de leer más de la autora para formarme una opinión más clara.
liannaedgelord's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
jawbone is genuinely haunting. the prose is incredible. the characters feel real. it's a super impressive piece that will stick with me a long time but i fucking hated actually reading it. the dense walls of text are claustrophobic and physically hard to get through. the constant dancing around sexual violence then very occasionally just bluntly describing abuse is more upsetting than just one or the other would have been. the utter disgust with bodies, treating puberty as body horror, is relatable in the worst way. the complete lack of an ending provides no way out of the feelings the book brings up. that's all on purpose and in some ways it's brilliant, but it's also kind of too upsetting to recommend. so how am i supposed to rate this?